by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
There are 134 hostages still in Hamas captivity in Gaza composed of men, women, elderly, children and a baby; as well as corpses of hostages since Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 attack into Israel. Plans on how to evacuate Gaza civilians to safe zones will soon be released by Israel. But a deadline for the hostages release before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan starting on March 10 has already been announced. If a hostage deal is not agreed upon by that date, Israel gives no guarantee Rafah will not be attacked during Ramadan. Rafah is the last remaining Hamas stronghold, along the Gaza border with Egypt. Christians around the world continue to pray for the immediate release of all hostages and a just end to this war. Continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-7).
As I’ve shared last time, the October 7, 2023 war initiated by Hamas has ushered a spiritual turning point for Israelis. The Israeli Jews are now coming around and reawakening to their spiritual heritage.
They had long patiently existed under the false belief that they were protected by their vaunted technological military superiority. But that did not stop the daily missile bombardment and the October 7 attacks. Now the Israelis know better. More and more realize that their protection and survival ultimately rests with God. More and more are also reconnecting to their God, the God of Judaism. And they are discovering also the “Christian God.”
Part of this spiritual reconnection with the LORD God is about the land of Israel. More and more Israelis are now studying Scripture and taking its words more seriously. God is calling his people back to him and calling them back to the land promised to them: promised to their ancestor, Abraham.
Last time, we saw Genesis 12:1-3 as God’s reminder of his promise of blessings long ago given to Abraham (then known as Abram) and all people. We can take a closer look at the context of this verse. After the Flood narratives of Genesis 6 – 9, Genesis 10 lays down the list or “Table of Nations” that arose from the 3 sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Jewish tradition as per The Jewish Study Bible, holds that there were seventy (70) nations that arose after the Flood. Note that of these nations, Israel is nowhere to be found, as it has not been called to existence yet.
Chapter 11 of Genesis tells us of the account of the Tower of Babel. The hubris of the nations is highlighted here (see Isaiah 14:13-14 as a parallel). The LORD God confounded the languages of the world’s nations and scattered people to all over the earth. Then, 10 generations from Noah’s son, Shem, God chose a man to build a new nation. This new nation would later on be called Israel. These chapters form the beginning context of what scholars call as the formal “Royal (Land) Grant.” From Genesis 11:31-32 we learn that Terah took Abram and his wife Sarai, and Lot from Ur of the Chaldeans, bound for Canaan but settled in Haran. Terah died in Haran and it is from here that Abram was called to move on.
Chapter 12 of Genesis begins with the LORD’s call to Abram:
1The LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. (JPS Tanakh)
1The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. (NIV)
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; (NASB)
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. (ESV)
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. (NRSV)
The foregoing sampling of Bible versions show that indeed, Abram was called to go to the (as yet unnamed) land. In Hebrew, with the presence of the definite article, it is a specific land, not just any land (אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ). It is the same in the Greek Septuagint (LXX) where the definite article (in the accusative case) precedes “land” (εἰς τὴν γῆν). Furthermore, Abram was promised to be the forerunner of a nation and recipient of even more blessings and protection:
2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. (JPS Tanakh)
2“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (NIV)
2And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; (NASB)
2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (ESV)
2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (NRSV)
The next verse is part and parcel of the wonderful blessing the LORD bestows upon the father of the new nation, on the nation itself, and to all peoples of the earth:
3I will bless those who bless you, and curse him that curses you; and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.” (JPS Tanakh)
3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (NIV)
3And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (NASB)
3I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (ESV)
3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (NRSV)
We will continue next time.
God bless us all.